By Sara Cline
The Enterprise
BROCKTON, Mass. — While fighting three fires in a busy 24 hours, Brockton firefighters confronted a bizarre situation early Sunday.
As firefighters battled a blaze on North Montello Street after midnight, they found a bleeding 27-year-old man lying on a floor. Officials said he had more than a dozen stab wounds.
When they tried to help him, he became aggressive, injuring two firefighters, the fire department said.
At about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, the police and fire departments received a call reporting at a mattress fire at 749 North Montello St.
Firefighters discovered the injured man in the room where the fire started.
“He had 12 to 14 stab wounds,” Brockton Deputy Fire Chief Mark Baker said. “They appeared to be self-inflicted. They were in the torso area.”
When the man, who was about 6-foot-10 and 300 pounds, became aggressive, “he injured two of our firefighters,” Baker said. “They were minor injuries – some bumps and bruises.”
Both firefighters were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated, Baker said.
Police had to use an electronic stun gun three times to control the combative man, Baker said. He was transported to a hospital and will be summoned to court, officials said.
Police did not release the man’s name, charges or condition.
The damage caused by the fire was estimated at $20,000, Baker said.
City firefighters fought their third blaze in 24 hours Sunday evening when they douse a bedroom blaze at 311 Court St., northeast of downtown.
Smoke could be seen pouring out of the roof of one-and-one-half-story home after the fire was reported around 7 p.m. A unidentified woman was transported to an area hospital, reportedly with burns on her hands.
Firefighters ventilated the roof of the structure and quickly brought the blaze under control.
About 24 hours earlier, at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, firefighters dealt with a fire at 218 Pine St., near the Massasoit Community College campus. They had the blaze under control within a half-hour.
Baker said the fire began outside the building.
The occupants were not home at the time, and there were no injuries. The damage, estimated at $150,000, was severe enough to displace the residents.
All three fires are being investigated.
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